Aeroplane.



B. M. SMITH.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED oc.2r,'|912.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

porting surface,

comprises a main ED s;-

AEROPLANE.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Batented J an. 4, 1916.

Application filed December 27, 1912. Serial No. 738,896.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Aeroplane, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates I to aircraft, and especially aeroplanes, the object of the invention being to provide a body or nacelle of novel construction, and having a general stream line form, the said nacelle embodying two relatively movable sections, oneof which is adapted to form a supporting base for the other section, the main body section of the nacelle being designed. to have mounted thereon or connected therewith the usual supporting, controlling and power devices, bymeans of W ich the machine as a whole is controlled, W ile traveling along a supin the am With the, above and other objects 'in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aircraft or aeroplane, showing the sections of thenacelle or body spread apart. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the position of the nacelle sections, when in flight. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing other means for connecting the two sections of the nacelle. Fig. 5 is a. similar view, showing other means'for effecting the same result. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a nacelle, showing a plurality of supporting sections connected with the main section.

Referring to the drawings, I havetherein shown an aircraft body or car, or as it is technically termed a nacelle,'which, in the preferred embodiment of this invention,

launching and alighting supporting base or buoyant section 2, the said sections being separable from each other on the line 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, only a singlesupporting section 2 p is employed, as illustrated in- Figs. to 5,

or while in actual flight to the section 1 of the desire supporting ignates a or body section 1, and a to the top section inclusive, but in some cases and particu- Be it known that I, REXFORD M. SMITH,

larly where the aircraft is of a large size, the supporting portion of the nacelle may be composed of aplurality of supporting sections 2 and 2", as illustrated in the side 1 In Figs. 1 and 2, the main supporting surface is designated. at 4:, the engme at 5, and the propeller at 6, the propeller being shown asconnected by means of sprocket and chain elements 7 with the engine shaft. In said figures, plane or keel, 9 tical rudder, 12 representsthe aviators seat.

In order to move the section 2 relatively be employed, and I, therefore, do not to be limited to any special means for effecting the relative adjustment ofvthe said sections 1 and 2 of the'nacelle, the essential feature of this portion of the inmay vention residing in providing any suitable means for connecting the two sections of the nacelle together, and rendering them capable ofmovement toward and away from eachother, so that the section 2 maybe moved from supporting to non-supporting position, and vice versa.

Under the arrangement illustrated in F igs. '1 and 2, the, supporting section-2 is connected by pivotal links 13 to the upper nacelle, various means 8 designates the fixed tail 1 a vertical keel, 10 the ver.- and 11 the horizontal rudder.-

or body section 1, so that the section 2 is swing on the pivotal centers of from its supporting to its nonposition, and vice versa. 14 desbrace'whi ch is connected, at 15, to the lower section 2, and which is adapted to engage a stop 16 on the ,upper section 1, for the relatively to each other, and locking said sections either in their nested or closed position, orin the separated or spread condition, illustrated in Fig. 1.- Any suitable means may be employed for raising and owering the bottom section 2 with respect adapted to said links purpose of bracing the two sections 1, a simple means being the connections may posts 29 which .which the hands and for swinging the sup-porting the manner of a swinging downwar illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, consisting in extending the rear links 13 above their pivots at the point 16 to form lever exten- 17 connected by a cross bar 18, against feet of the operator may be placed section 2 up or down. In order to counterbalance the weight of the section 2, a cable 19 is shown as connected to the lever extension 17 and passing from thence around .a guide pulley'20, and having its end connected to a contractile spring 21 attached to a fiiied point 22 within the main body section 1.

in lieu of the connections illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the bottom section swings forwardly as it moves downwardly, be arranged as shown in Fig. i, which will permit the bottom section 2 to move in a straight line toward and away from the top section 1. This may be done by constructing the connecting links in pivotally jointed sections, as shown at 23 and 24:, the links being connected pivotally together, at 25, so that they will told after measuring rule, as the bottom section is moved toward the top section, said links straightening out as the bottom section is moved away from the top" section, as clearly shown in Fig. t Any suitable means,such as a brace 26, may be used for locking the bottom section in its supporting position and in fixed relation to the top sec.- tion 1, and the brace 26 may have a pivotal connection, at 27, with the supporting section of the nacelle, and an interlocked connection, at 28, with the top or body section 1 of the nacelle. Another plan of connecting the top and bottom sections 1 and 2. respectively, is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the bottom section is shown as provided with slide in tubes 30 in the top The posts 29 may be provide teeth 31 which are.v engaged by section 1. with rack spur gear wheels on two parallel shafts 32 and 33, eachof said shafts being provided with a sprocket wheel 3% by a sprocket chain 36. ()ne of the shafts may be provided with cranks 37 and pedals 38. by means of which the operator may raise and lower the bottom section 2 of the nacelle in a manner readily understood. suitable lock 39 in the term of a sliding bolt or pivoted dog may be used for locking the raising and-lowering mechanism, seas to hold the bottom section 2 off the nacelle either in an elevated or depressed position. Under the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the bottom section is shown divided into a plurality of sections 2 and 2", and said sections are connected by links 40 and ii to the body section 1 of the naceLe, so that in dly, the front section, for example, will swing toward the front, and the rear section toward the rear, thereby ing them together,

. parting from and 35 connected leaving an intervening space between the two sections. This gives a greater fore and aft length to the supporting base and adapts it for bodies of unusual length. It will be further noted in Fig. 6 that the rear end of the forward supporting section, 2' is concaved or cut away, as shown at 42, to conform to the forward end of the rear section so that the two sections of the bottom Wlll nest together when drawn upwardly into contact with the top section 1, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. v

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the leading feature of the invention resides in providing a nacelle which is composed of the machine body, and a supporting base. the said parts being so divided and combined that when brought together, theywill form a streamline body or nacelle, which may be propelled through the air with a minimum amount-of head resistance. in other words, when the machine is in flight, be caused by the supporting base upon which the machine rests, while not in flight. As the said supporting base as a, whole is included within the confines or outer contour of the nacelle, the two sections of the nacelle form complementary portions of each other. The means-for spreading the two sections of the nacelle apart and drawand the means for countor-balancing the supporting section of the nacelle, and for locking the sections in fixed relation to each other, when brought toand when spread apart, are merely inc1dentals,-and any suitable mechanism for this purpose may be provided, without dethe spirit of this invention. use of the nacelle is not Furthermore, the

particular type of ma restricted to any 'chine, as it is equally applicable to monoplanes, biplanes, and multiplanes, whether wholly of the heavier than air type, or of the lighter than air type, or a combination of the two.

The invention hereinabov'e described may be used in connection with hydroaeroplanes, motor sleds and other water and land craft. For hydroaeroplane' work. the supporting base may. if desired, have the bottom thereofstepped. The engine may be utilized for shifting the supporting base to supporting and non-supporting position.

What is claimed, is

l. Tn air craft of the character specified, a ciosed nacelle having a relatively movable base portion forming a complo mentary part thereof and movable up down with relation thereto.

2. air craft of the character sp a closed nacelle having a supporting carriage, and means for adjusting sai dercarriage upwardly against the be within the stream line thereot.

no head resistance whatever Wlll IND -3. In craft of a closed nacelle embodying an undercarriage comprising fore and aft members adapted to be moved into such relation to the nacelle as to form in connection therewith a stream line body.

4. In craft of the a closed stream line nacelle having a sepa-' rable supporting botton section forming a launchingand alighting base, said base being movable up and down relatively to the upper section within the stream line thereof.

5. In craft of .the character specified, a nacelle having a bottom section forming a complementary part thereof, said bottom section being movable downwardly in spaced relation to the body of the nacelle to provide an undercarriage for said body of the nacelle.

6. In craft of the character specified, a nacelle having a bottom section forming a complementary part thereof, said bottom section being movable downwardly'in spaced relation to the body of the nacelle to provide a launching and alighting base forsaid body of the nacelle.

7. In craft of the character specified,v

' a nacelle having a bottom section forming a complementary part thereof, said bottom section being movable downwardly in spaced of the nacelle to proalighting'base for said and means for raisin relation to the body vide a launching and body of the'nacelle, and lowering said bottom section.

8. In craft of the character specified, a nacelle having a bottom section forming a complementary part thereof,-said bottom section being movable downwardly in spaced relation to the body of the nacelle to provide a launching and alighting base for said body of the nacelle, and means for raising and lowering said bottom section while in fli ht.

In craft of the character specified, a nacelle having a base.portion forming a complementary part thereof and movable up and down with relation thereto, said base portion being shaped to provide a surface against which the air pressure acts with a lifting pressure while in flight.v

10. In craft of the character specified,

a nacelle having a base partion forming a complementary part thereof, and movable up and down with relation thereto, said base portion being shaped to provide a surface against which the air pressure acts while in flight to press said base portion rearwardly and upwardly toward the body of the nacelle.

.11. In craft of the character specified, a nacelle having a base portion forming a complementary part thereof and movable' up and down with relation thereto, said base portion being shaped to provide a surthe character specified,

character specified,

and adapted to be housed section.

nacelle composed of them together,

a nacelle composed of complementary upper and lower sections, means for relatively spreading said sections apart and drawing them together, and means on theupper section for counterbalancing the weight of the lower section.

14. In craft of the character specified,

an aeroplane nacelle comprising an upper body section and a bottom section movable toward and away from said upper section and forming a launching and alight'ing base.

15. In air craft of the character specified,

an aeroplane nacelle divided longitudinally specified,

into a body section and a supporting sec 'tlon forming a launching and alighting base,

the last-named section being connected with the body section for movement toward and away from the body section and adapted to section out of contact with which the structure as a not in aerial flight.

sustain the body the surface on whole rests when 16. nacelle, having a bottom section forming a complementary section being movable downwardly in spaced relation to the body of the nacelle to provide a launching and alighting surface, and means for raising and lowering said bottom 17. In craft of the character specified, an aeroplane nacelle divided into separable sections forming an aeroplane body and a boat body, the sections being separable in a common relative plane and when brought together constituting the nacelle.

18. In craft of the character. specified, a complementary upper and lower sections, spreading said sections apart and drawing sections in fixed relation to each other.

19. In craft of the nacelle composed of complementary upper and lower sections, and means for relatively spreading said sections apart and drawing them together, the lower section embodying a hydroplane surface and being adapted to support the upper section clear of the surface on which the structure as awhole rests when not in aerial flight.

20. In craft of the character specified, a nacelle composed of complementary upper and lower sections, and means for relatively spreading said sections apart and drawing; them together, 'the'lower section embodying and means for locking the In a flying machine, a stream line part thereof, said bottom means for relatively character specified, a

a surface whichacts both as a hydroplane and aeroplane surface and is adapted to, support on which the structure as a whole rests when not in aerial flight.

21. In craft of the character specified, a-

closed stream line nacelle comprising an upper man-carrying body section, a lower supporting section movable downwardly from the upper section and forming and alighting base, and means carried by the upper section for raising and lowering the lower section while in flight.

23. In craft of the character specified, a closed stream line nacelle comprising an upper man-carrying body section, a lower supporting section movable downwardly from the upper section and forming a launching and alighting base, and manually controlled means for raising and lowering the lower section while in flight.

24. In craft of the character specified,- a.

the upper section clear of the surface a launching menses nacelle comprising an upper body and an under body superimposed one upon the other, the under body being movable downwardly in relation to the upper body and serving in such relation as a launchingand alighting base which supports the upper body clear of the surface on which the structure as a whole is supported when the craft is not in aerial flight.

25. lin craft of the character specified, a nacelle comprising upper and lower sections superimposed one upon the other, and means for spreading said sections apart which stillpreservingthe order of their arrangement, the lower section forming a launching and alighting base.

26. In air craft, a stream line body embodying separable but connected sections one of which constitutes a supporting base when moved away from its complemental section,

said sections having a limited amount of movement relatively to each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REXFORD M. SMITH. Witnesses:

G. C. HINES,

-Bnnns'r'r Jonas,

acY 

